Drain pipe connector



July 7, 1959 w. F. HOLICKY DRAIN PIPE CONNECTOR Filed Jan. 7, 1955 INVENTOR. X IILLIAM E HOLICKY United States Patent DRAIN PIPE CONNECTOR William F. Holicky, Cleveland, Ohio Application January 7, 1955, Serial No. 480,523

7 Claims. (CI. 61-11) 'This invention'relates to drain pipe connectors and, more specifically, to a connector for adjoining and spacing drain pipe which generally take the form of ceramic tile.

In' laying a drain in the earths surface of the type which is used to disperse and dispose of water in the ground, considerable difliculty is encountered in providing proper space between adjacent pipes, in maintaining appropriate alignment between the pipes, and in preventing particles of earth from infiltrating and eventually cloggingthe drain.

T e present invention contemplates the use of an arcuately curved device of generally circular configuration which will embrace an end of each of two adjoining pipes to align and space them. Provision is made for the use of spacing members toextend between and separate two adjacent pipes and, at the same time, provision is made for reliefs or apertures of a sort which will permit the ingress and egress. of water, and, at the same time, will retard and substantially prevent the ingress of earth particles.

tile, small sections of shingles or other roofing material areplac'ed over the junctions of opposed ends of adjacent 'pipe s'. This roofing material is intended to prevent particles of earth from entering the drain, and, at the same time, to permit water to flow into the drain. This procedure has never been satisfactory from two aspects: first,

'that it permits particles of soil to seep into and enter the drain as the ditch is filled in and, second, that the life of the roofing material is, when compared with the life of the drain, relatively short. The roofing material eventually deteriorates and ceases to perform its function of preventing the entry of soil into the drain, and, in fact, the roofing material itself will yield particles which enter the drain and tend to clog it and cause shortening of the" useful life of the drain. An additional object of "this invention is, then, to provide a connecting member which will prevent the ingress of earth into the tile, both at the time when "the ditch is filled in, and during the life of the drain.

in laying a plurality of drain pipes, ditliculty is fre- "quently encountered, even by the most experienced and skilled persons, in providing appropriate alignment of the series ofpipes and, in particular, in laying the pipes in a manner which will preserve their appropriate alignment,

. even after the ground has settled, after a trench dug for a drain has been refilled." It is, then, an additional object of this invention, to provide a device which will insure proper andcontinued alignment of a plurality of drain pipes without exceptional care in packing the soil under and around a-drain As a further object of this invention, it is contemplated that the device will save appreciable time and labor in laying a plurality of drain pipes, in that the loose dirt need not, for reasons previously set out, be uniformly, firmly and precisely packed underneath the tile prior to their insertion in a ditch and, further, that a plurality of pipes may be joined on the surface of the ground prior to their insertion in a ditch.

The connector has, as a further object, a construction which will have a life substantially equal to the life of the tile, the material being used being plastic or other suitable material which is resistant to acids and other corrosive substances present in the soil.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed dsecription and from the appended drawings which are to be considered a portion of the specifications.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the connector showing two tile or pipes in phantom in the positions which they will assume with respect to the connector when the connector is in use;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view, on an enlarged scale, of the embodiment of the connector shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3--3 of Fig. 2 of the embodiment of the connector shown in Fig. 2 and in a like scale, and;

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of an alternate construction of the connector in a scale comparableto the scale shown in Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 discloses two drain pipes 1, shown in phantom, joined by a tile connector shown generally at 2. The connector is an arcuately curved device which defines in general a segmental section of a circle. The connector may be made from any of a plurality of materials, but preferably is constructed of material such as a plastic which will have a desired minimum of inherent resiliency and will, at the same time, be impervious to acids and other fluids and substances which are normally in the soil and may tend to cause deterioration.

The connector 2 has a rim 3 which is circumferentially disposed about the perimeter of the connector. An annular flange 4 is circumferentially disposed within and affixed to the inner surface 5 of the rim 3. The flange is located at substantially the mid-point of the axial dimension of the rim 3 to form a member having substantially T shaped cross section as may best be seen in Fig. 3, to provide rigidity for the entire member and to aid in forming relief passages 6 which permit the ingress and egress of water, and, at the same time, retard the ingress of particles of soil. Thus, the reliefs 6 must be of sufficiently small dimension to, in effect, filter soil particles from suspension in water entering the drain and to bar the entrance of dirt into the drain when a trench in which a drain has been laid is being filled in.

A plurality of shoulders 7 are circumferentially disposed about the inner surface of the connector taprovide surfaces which will frictionally embrace the surfaces of adjoining tile to cause the adjoining pipes and the connector to adhere to one another.

The shoulders 7 provide a series of surfaces which, in effect, \form segments of a cylindrical surface, having a diameter substantially equal to, or slightly smaller than, the outside diameter of pipe to be joined. This imaginary cylindrical surface having segments of the surface defined by the shoulders 7 is a surface formed about an axis which is also the axis for the arcuate curvature of the rim 3.

Preferably, the rim and the connector extend together over an are which is greater than degrees and which is, in its preferred embodiment, approximately 240 de- 3 grees By this construction, it is possible to construct a connector in which the shoulders provide an internal diameter which is equalto or slightly smaller than the diameter of the drain pipes which are to be embraced. In connecting two pipes, it is then possible 'to expand the connector slightly, insert .the ends of two pipes, and, thence, allow the connector to contract slightly from its inherent resiliency to peripherally engage two surfaces of the two pipes to be joined. By constructing a connector which defines an arc in excess of 180 degrees, it is possible to grip abutting tile in a manner which will assure their proper and continued alignment. A plurality of inwardly extending angularly spaced radial spacing members 8 are aflixed to the rim 3 and the flange 4. The axial dimensions of the spacing members 8 are substantially equal. Thespacing members 8 are centrally, located with respect to the axial dimension of the rim 3 The side edges 11 and 12 are smooth and substantially perpendicular to the inner surface of the rim 3, and the side edges 11 and 12 are intended tobut need not necessarilyabut against ends 13 and 14 of the .drain pipes 1. The axial dimension of the spacing members 8 should be appropriate to provide adequate and proper spacing in the neighborhood of A to /2 inch between adjacent pipes.

. v Referring to Figs. 1 through 3, the spacing members 8 are T shaped in cross section, having as the head of the 1' an axially extending shoulder portion 17 and as the stern of the T a radially extending central portion 18.

.The shoulder portion 17 of the spacing member 8 thus has inwardly extending edges 19 which serve to function as the previously described shoulders 7. The central por- ,tions or stems 18 extend inwardly and radially to form the spacing element of the spacing members 8.

Referring to Fig. 4, an alternate construction 1s shown in which the arc defined by the connector is extended to cover substantially an entire circle. The alternate embodiment also discloses a plurality of outwardly disposed extensions 15 which are arcuately curved and which form reliefsfi which are segmental in shape. In this construction, the spacing members 8 are substantially rectangular in section and the sections 16 of the rim disposed between the extensions 15 form shoulders comparable in function and indicatedv also by the same numeral as the shoulders 7 of-theother disclosed embodiment.

In the construction shown in Fig. 4 reference numerals are used which are the same as the numerals shown in lthe other disclosed embodiment when referring to parts which are alike in function and purpose.

It can thus be seen that a connector which will fric- 'tion ally embrace two abutting tiles to assure spacing and alignment and, at the sametime, allow the ingress and egress of water while substantially excluding all dirt particles, has been obtained.

In accordance with the patentstatutes the principles of the. present invention may be utilized in various ways, .numerous modifications and alterations being contemplated, substitution of parts and changes in construction being resorted to as. desired, it being understood that the embodiments shown in the drawings and described above and the particular methodset forth are given merely for purposes of explanation and illustration without intending to limit the scope of the claims to the specific details disclosed.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

A connector forspacing and aligning drain pipe, comprising an arcuately curved rim defining in general the segment; of a circle, a plurality of radial angularly .spaced inwardlyextending spacing members ,of' substantially uniform axial dimension affixed to the rim, the

spacing members being. substantially Tshaped sections, each T .shaped spacing member including a head and a s tem the heads ofthe spacing members abutting and being afiixed to the rim, the heads of the respective spacing members being of substantially uniform radial dimension from the center -of curvature of the rim to permit uniform abutment of the surfaces of pipes to be spaced, and the stems projecting inwardly for location between ends of such pipes to prevent the pipes from abutting each other, said rim and said heads of the spacing members defining a plurality of relief passages which serve to permit the ingress andegress of water and to substantially prevent the ingress of soil into a spaced pair of such pipes, and an arcuate portion of an annular flange circumferentially disposed and inwardly extending from said rim, the'flange and the rim forming a body which is substantially T shaped in cross sect ion, and the flange supportably embracing the spacing members over substantially all of the radial dimensions of each of said spacing members.

. 2. A corrosion resistingconnector forapairpf drain pipes comprising an arcuately curved segmental rim, having inner and outer surfaces, an; annular inwardly extending flange circumferentially disposed within and afiixed to the inner surface of the rim, the flange being located at the mid point of the axial dimension of the rim, an gularly spaced inwardly and radially projecting spacing members aflixed' to the inner surface of the rim, and a plurality of angularly spaced shoulders'projecting radially and inwardly from the inner surface otf th'e rim, said shoulders being members which will frictionally engage the peripheral surface of adjacent pipes, and said rim, said flange, said spacing members, and said shoulders defining a plurality of relief passages, said relief passages serving to permit the ingress and egress of water and to substantially prevent the ingress of soil into a spaced pair of pipes. v p

3. A drain pipe connector comprising, a rim defining in cross section a segment of an annulus of greater than degrees extent, the rim having an inner surface, a plurality of spacers fixed to the rim inner surface and projecting radially inwardly, the spacers beinggenerally both directions from each of said spacers, said riin and said flange means being formed of a material suificiently flexible and resilient to permit expansion, over and then gripping contraction against a pair of pipes to be connected, the diameter of the rim when the connector is in use being greater than the diameter of the rim when the connector is not in use, and the entire connection being constructed from material resistant to rot and corrosion from ground fluids.

4. A drain, pipe connector comprising, a rim defining in cross section a segment of an annulus of greater than 180 degrees extent, the rim having an inner surface, a plurality of spacers fixed to the rim inner surface and projecting radially inwardly, the spacers beingigenerally centeredlongitudinally of the rim, the spacers also being 'spaced circumferentially about the rim inner surface, the

spacers each having first and second pipe contacting side surfaces, flange means projecting radially inwardly from said rim and disposed circumferentiallyin both directions from each of said spacers, said rim and said flange means being formed of a material sufficiently flexible and resilient to permit expansion overand then gripping contraction against a pair of pipes to be connected, the diameter of the rim when the connector is in use being greater than the diameter of the rim when the connector is'not in use, and the entire connection being constructed from material resistant to rot and corrosion fromground fluids.

5. A connector for spacing and aligning "drain pipe comprising, a curved segment which is a flexible, resilient body, the body having a rim and inwardly directed flange means, the rim having first and second side edges disposed transversely of the axis of the device, the body also having a plurality of spacing members extending inwardly from said rim and forming first and second groups of stops, the spacing members projecting longitudinally from the spacing means, the first group of stops being substantially uniformly spaced from the first side edge and being abuttable against one of a pair of pipes to be connected, the second group of stops being substantially uniformly spaced from the second side edge and being abuttable against the other of the pair of pipes to be connected, the body also having a plurality of inwardly directed shoulders contactable with the surfaces of pipes to be connected, the shoulders having inner surfaces disposed substantialy uniform distances from the body axis, said body being radially expandable such that said uniform distances are greater when the device is in use than when the device is not in use, and said body having a plurality of relief passages formed therein, one of said relief passages being disposed between each pair of adjacent shoulders, said relief passages serving to permit the ingress and egress of water and to substantially prevent the ingress of soil into a spaced pair of pipes.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein the rim defines said shoulders and wherein the rim has a plurality of outwardly directed extensions disposed between said shoulders to define said relief passages.

7. A drain pipe connector comprising a flexible resilient body defining a segment of an annulus, said body having radial flanged means, the flange means having first and second side faces, said body also having a plurality of spacing members extending substantially uniform dis tances longitudinally from at least one of said flange means side faces, said body having a rim defining the peripheral limits of said flange means and extending longiitudinally from both of said flange means side faces, and said body generating the contour of a segment of a generally cylindrical geometric form, the body being expanded when in use such that the diameter of the cylindrical form is greater when the device is in use than when not in use, said flange means being radially expandable when the device is in use to cause the inherent resiliency of the flange means and rim to draw the rim against the pipes to be connected.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 146,572 Clark Ian. 20, 1874 1,518,014 Steen Dec. 2, 1924 2,029,920 Gutman Feb. 4, 1936 2,116,165 Ullman May 3, 1938 2,388,633 De Woody Nov. 6, 1945 2,648,200 Dimick Aug. 11, 1953 

